Rev. Browning

Rev. Paul Casto Browning, 82, of 3721 Luther Court, died on Sunday, June 25, 2006 at his home after several years of failing health. Rev. Browning was born on August 28, 1923 in Charleston, WV, he was the son of the late Albert Browning and the late Margaret Skeens Browning. In 1942 he volunteered for service in WWII and joined the Marines; following basic training, he was sent to the South Pacific from 1943-44. He participated in Treasury-Bougainville Operation; Bismark Archipelago Operation, and the Consolidation of Northern Solomon Islands. Upon completion of his tour of duty with the Marine Corps, he returned to West Virginia to continue his education at Morris Harvey College. He graduated in 1953 and moved to Burlington to attend Duke University Divinity School. While attending Duke he served as a student pastor of Shiloh, Camp Springs, Bethel, and Mt. Vernon Methodist Churches. Upon graduation where he received a Master of Divinity and a BD degree, he was appointed to serve as the first full-time minister of the Wrightsville Beach Methodist Church. He also served as a Reserve Chaplain for the U.S. Navy. Other United Methodist Churches where Paul served were Trinity:Fairmont, Trinity:Wilmington, Long Memorial:Roxboro, Trinty:Jacksonville, and First UMC:Morehead City. Paul was active in conference leadership roles, serving on various boards and devoted eight years to serving as chairperson of the Commission on Evangelism. In 1975, Paul was appointed to the position of Administrator for the United Methodist Retirement Homes in NJ; he continued serving as administrator of Retirement Homes until his own retirement in 1998. Rev. Browning is survived by his wife of more than 61 years, Winifred Lore Winnie Browning of the home; a daughter, Sherry Browning Slate of Virginia Beach, VA; two grandchildren, James Slate and his wife, Michelle, of Mooresville, NC and Torii Boulangger and her husband, Cesar, of Virginia Beach, VA; and one sister, Pauline Kistler of Waynesville, NC. The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 PM Thursday, June 29, 2006 at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Thomas Holtsclaw and Rev. Gene Ferrell. Interment will follow at Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Wednesday evening at the funeral home and other times at the home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Rd., Burlington, NC 27215. Condolences may be sent to the family at info@lowefuneralhome.com.